Mahabharata’s Gajendra Chauhan & Raza Murad Slam Imran Khan Over Deportation Notice
The intensifying controversy surrounding actor Imran Khan’s impending expulsion from India has sharply polarized the Hindi film fraternity, triggering fierce public exchanges among industry veterans. The dispute ignited after the Mumbai Police served a formal departure notice requiring Khan—an American citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder—to leave the country by October 28, 2026, following his detention during an unauthorized demonstration at South Mumbai’s historic August Kranti Maidan on October 10 demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. While creative figures including filmmaker Kiran Rao and actress Saba Azad rallied to defend the actor, prominent industry seniors have expressed vehement indignation over foreign nationals involving themselves in domestic political agitation.
Gajendra Chauhan Questions OCI Conduct and Demands Swift Legal Action
Leading the criticism, veteran actor Gajendra Chauhan, widely recognized for portraying Yudhishthira in B.R. Chopra’s landmark television epic Mahabharata, strongly condemned the actor’s conduct during an interview with news agency ANI, characterizing his actions as a betrayal of India’s hospitality. Chauhan asserted that foreign nationals living in India under OCI status are explicitly prohibited by statutory immigration frameworks from voting, contesting democratic elections, or participating in political demonstrations. Pointing out that Khan had earned fame, wealth, and widespread public affection from Indian audiences over his career, Chauhan argued that participating in civil unrest violated the core legal undertakings of his stay, commending the authorities for asking violators to leave the country while urging law enforcement officials to expedite the administrative removal process.
Raza Murad Condemns Foreign Interference as Payal Rohatgi Labels Protest Stunt 'Jobless'
Joining the chorus of disapproval, veteran actor Raza Murad emphasized that foreign nationals have no legal or moral standing to interfere in the sovereign internal affairs of the nation, stressing that the Mumbai Police exercised due procedural restraint by granting a 15-day departure window rather than executing an immediate deportation. Adding to the backlash, former Bigg Boss contestant and actress Payal Rohatgi launched a sharp critique, characterizing Khan’s presence at the demonstration as irresponsible and describing it as an attention-seeking stunt by unemployed figures looking to capitalize on media coverage. With the October 28 departure deadline rapidly approaching, the confrontation has grown into a broader legal and cultural debate surrounding the statutory boundaries of celebrity activism and foreign citizenship obligations on Indian soil.
